Holocaust Survivor Steen Metz Shares His Story With Autumn Creek Elementary Sixth-Graders

YORKVILLE, IL - Holocaust survivor Steen Metz shared his story with sixth-grade students at Autumn Creek Elementary School in Yorkville.

Metz was 8-years-old on Oct. 2, 1943 when he was taken from his home in Odense, Denmark. He was arrested with his family and deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp for being Jewish. In the camps, Metz said there was constant hunger, brutal living conditions, and death all around. About 15,000 children passed through the Theresienstadt concentration camp and most were killed. Metz was only one of the less than 1,500 who survived.

His father died of starvation after less than six months in the camp. He spent about 18 months in the concentration camp with his mother before it was liberated on April 15, 1945 by the Red Cross – only one month before the scheduled launch of the camp’s newly installed gas chamber. Metz returned to Denmark and completed high school and business college in Copenhagen.

He kept his story private until about 2011.

Metz said it took him many years before he could tell others what he experienced in the concentration camp. But now it is his life's work to tell his story. He shares his experiences with as many people as possible. He said he’s determined to keep the stories and memories alive.

And now, this was Metz’s second visit to the Yorkville school to speak with students about the Holocaust and answer questions.

He read Holocaust themed stories and poems to the children. Metz showed the students drawings from a book, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly.” This book has art and poetry by Jewish children who were held as prisoners in the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

The Yorkville students then made their own butterflies to honor the children who lost their lives during the Holocaust.

The butterflies were then hung from the ceiling in the entrance to the Autumn Creek cafeteria, where Metz’s presentation took place, according to Autumn Creek Elementary School.

For more information, visit “Steen Metz.. Never Forget”

Photo via Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center